THE LION KING Will Come to Birmingham Hippodrome in June 2013

Disney today announced that the touring production of THE LION KING will play the Birmingham Hippodrome from Saturday 29th June 2013 as part of its first-ever UK tour. The legendary musical, which premiered in Bristol on Friday 31st August will visit Birmingham for a three-month season, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the global phenomenon in their local theatre.

Four years in the making, this truly international production brings together a cast of over 50 actors, singers and dancers, from 17 different countries, supported by a backstage team of over 100 people. The touring production will be the biggest musical production ever to tour the UK. With 26 different types of animal, along with hundreds of masks and puppets and more than 700 elaborate costumes, 21 giant trucks are used to transport everything across the country. In total, the touring production will visit 10 cities across the UK & Ireland over two and a half years, with further dates and locations to be announced.

Meanwhile, the acclaimed West End production of Disney’s THE LION KING continues to play at London’s Lyceum Theatre, where it recently welcomed its 10 millionth visitor and celebrates its 13th birthday this autumn.

Since its Broadway premiere in 1997, Julie Taymor’s multi-award winning production has now been seen by over 65 million people across 15 countries on 5 continents and has been translated into 6 languages. Taymor’s extraordinary vision has gone on to achieve phenomenal success on an international scale, enthralling audiences across the globe with the timeless story and universal messages of hope, community and the circle of life.

Disney’s THE LION KING is based on the beloved Academy award-winning animated film which was entrusted to Director and Co-Designer Julie Taymor to adapt the film for the stage. Taymor brought a vast array of disciplines to THE LION KING which draws upon her immeasurable experience of various theatrical styles and cultures to tell the compelling tale of Simba, the young lion cub, as he journeys through life and struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role of King.

In addition to the record-breaking productions in London and New York, Disney’s THE LION KING can currently be seen in Tokyo, Hamburg, Sapporo, Madrid and on tour in the US. THE LION KING UK tour is the 20th production to premiere internationally.

Fiona Thomas, Vice President of Disney Theatrical Group said: “We continue to be thrilled by how much audiences enjoy The Lion King in London and we look forward to sharing Julie Taymor's epic vision with audiences in Birmingham. Disney Theatrical Productions' Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins have already been warmly embraced by Hippodrome theatregoers and we hope The Lion King will be enjoyed by all who see it.”